Critical Skills Sought for Africa

admin, 13 May 2012

News Release

Critical Skills Sought for Africa

March 2010

In an address issued during the recently concluded AU Summit in Addis Ababa, African Development Bank Group President, Donald Kaberuka confirmed that Africa would probably resume its pre-crisis growth path in 2010 and was likely to be the second fastest growing continent after Asia. Businesses across Africa also echo these sentiments and are therefore preparing for future productivity and growth. Central to this development is the drive to recruit professionals possessing critical skills and this has in turn led organisations like Barclays, ECOWAS, GE, Lafarge, Nestlé, Schlumberger and Vodafone to conduct international recruitment campaigns as part of their overall skills development strategy.

Global Career Company, a London-based international recruitment consultancy, has been at the forefront of recruiting the cream of Africa’s professionals working abroad with an enviable track record spanning eight years of working with over 200 of Africa’s leading employers.

Rupert Adcock, Managing Director at Global Career Company notes that there are some key trends emerging in the current market. “Career opportunities for individuals with extensive industry experience especially in Banking and ICT are increasing significantly across the region. Africa’s financial sector remained essentially sound throughout the crisis and the African telecommunications market is showing great promise and is expected to experience a faster growth rate than any other region over the next three to five years.”

Players in these sectors are among those seeking to bolster their workforces with experienced professionals possessing global experience. It is an added bonus that this, in turn, helps these companies reduce their reliance on expatriate expertise.

Global Career Company’s Careers in Africa Recruitment Summit hosted annually in London is one such channel and is already the largest African recruitment event in the world. This year’s Summit has already seen a marked increase in the number of companies looking to recruit into Africa and the number of executives applying for African-based roles.

“Our Careers in Africa Recruitment Summit is a unique opportunity for clients to recruit some of the world’s brightest talent, and for candidates provides a great opportunity to get themselves in front of key decision makers within some of the regions biggest and most highly regarded companies,” adds Adcock.

Charles Hoyt, Manager Facilities Engineering at Chevron Angola was thrilled with the outcomes of the Summit after participating in May 2009, “I made twelve formal offers and received ten confirmations on the spot. These were to a variety of engineering candidates – fresh graduates and experienced professionals. The other teams also made multiple offers.”

The event is now in its 8th year and since its inception has been a major facilitator for African recruitment and development. This years’ event takes place between 28th to 30th May in London and will be attended by 50 of the world’s largest companies, including Kenya Commercial Bank, Nigerian Breweries, Tigo, Wärtsilä and the SAFAL Group.

Kabeho Solo, Chief Human Resources Officer at National Microfinance Bank recognizes the value of these Summits, “This event continues to be a source of high calibre talent from diverse backgrounds.”

Angela Mensah-Poku, a Ghanaian professional who had resided in the UK for many years is clear on how useful the Careers in Africa Summit has been to her career: “After multiple interviews with different companies, I am now back home working for Vodafone Ghana.”